I will not pick up the bat after retirement: Virat Kohli

SYDNEY: Retired cricketers plying their trade in T20 leagues might
be a global trend right now but India captain Virat Kohli says
he wouldn't even be "seen around the scene" the day he is "totally
spent" to pick up the bat again.

Responding to a query on whether he would consider playing in the
Australian Big Bash league after retiring or
if the BCCI lifts the bar on its players, Kohli said he would
certainly not be around for such a stint after retirement.

"Look I don't know whether that stance is going to change in the
future. As far as I am concerned, playing more cricket when I am
done, I don't think I am in that zone to be honest," the
30-year-old said ahead of the opening ODI against Australia on
Saturday.

Retired cricketers such as AB de Villiers and Brendon
McCullum are regularly seen playing in T20 leagues such as the
IPL and Big Bash but Kohli says he isn't interested in joining the
bandwagon.

"I have played enough cricket in the last five years and I cannot
comment on even the first thing I do when I retire because I don't
feel like I am going to pick up the bat again," he said.

"I will be spent, the day I finish I will be totally spent and
that's the reason I am going to stop playing cricket. So I don't
see myself coming back and playing again. Once I am done, I will be
done, and I won't be seen around the scene," Kohli said.

The skipper was all praise for his team's batting line-up and said
the line-up looks strong heading into the ODI World Cup starting
May 30 in England.

"In the last 12 months, our ODI batting has been very strong and
openers are a very big factor in that. There was a phase in the
middle when we addressed the issue of middle overs and from 25-40
overs we tried to change our batting style," he said.

"Where our batting is at the moment, the team management and I are
very comfortable because we have results in ODI cricket and
performances have been very good as well."

In fact, Kohli felt the Indian team is perfectly balanced in every
aspect.

"The bowling has been balanced too. In one-day cricket, any team
can beat you on any given day. But as a team you have to give your
best and take your strongest eleven. And we feel as a one-day team
we are on the right track, and are on our full strength," he
said.